The Role of Oba Sijuwade in my Ascension to the Throne, by Ooni Ogunwusi

The Role of Oba Sijuwade in my Ascension to the Throne, by Ooni Ogunwusi

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, today stated that the role played by his immediate predecessor,  late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in his ascension to the throne of Oduduwa was remarkable.

Oba Ogunwusi, who became the 51st Ooni in September last year after the death of Oba Sijuwade in a London hospital same year, spoke at the renaming of Ife City Hall after the late  Sijuwade in Ile Ife.

 The event which saw the three wives of Sijuwade making a public appearance within Ile Ife for the first time since the completion of his funeral rites in September last year, was also witnessed by the eldest son of the monarch, Prince Adetokunbo and some of his siblings.

Oba Ogunwusi in his remarks said his predecessor played a major role in his becoming a monarch through prayers, saying on few occasions, he had opportunity of close interaction with Oba Sijuwade, prayers which showed his clairvoyant abilities.

 "Oba Sijuwade was not just our revered father, he was a special creature and demonstrated his ability to foresee future on few occasions I had interaction with him.  I can confidently say he played a role in my ascension. On those occasions, he usually prayed from his heart for me.

 "The honour we are doing him today can never be at par with his contributions to the development of this land. His contributions to even this structure we are naming after him today was huge. Ife will continue to remember him for his great contributions to our development," Oba Ogunwusi said.

 Speaking earlier, the President of Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, stressed that Oba Sijwuade was being immortalised in recognition of the role he played in the development of Ife and empowerment of its people.

 Opeloye contended that the late monarch initiated the project and contributed immensely to seeing it to fruition, and commended the Chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare, for contributing a sum of N12.5 million for the project.

 He said IDB was also using the occasion to honour some members of Ife academia working in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, who have risen to the professorial cadre, explaining that in over 50 years of existence of the institution, no indigene had been made a vice chancellor, as the hope of achieving the feat is on the rise at the moment.

 Responding on behalf of Sijuwade's family, Prince Aderemi Sijuwade, thanked the community for recognising the role Sijuwade played in putting Ife on world map, promising that the family will always be ready to contribute to the development of Ife.